Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The incremental purchase scheme will be introduced in the coming months, according as relevant parts of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and Regulations to give full effect to the scheme are brought into operation. A number of housing authorities have already expressed interest in taking part in the scheme once it has commenced and in that context have begun work seeking...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the former Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. In the case of South Tipperary County Council, the 2009 allocation amounted to €1,530,000 compared to an initial...

Written Answers — House Fire Statistics: House Fire Statistics (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Statistics supplied to the Department by fire authorities indicate that there were 157 domestic fatal fires which resulted in 179 fatalities in the period 2004 - 2008. The attributed cause of these fatalities, as reported by the fire authorities, and the presence or otherwise of smoke alarms at these incidents, are indicated in Tables 1 and 2 below. Over half the fatal fire incidents...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €77 million for some 26 individual projects at various locations around the country, under my Department's capital funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing. The announcement also referred to the allocation of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. While action to deal with anti-social behaviour is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána, in the case of private rented dwellings landlords are responsible for enforcing the obligations that apply to their tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act, in this regard, prohibits a tenant in a private residential tenancy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: It is a statutory function of housing authorities under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 to implement appropriate measures to address homelessness in their areas. Accordingly, implementation of the Homeless Strategy in any area is primarily the responsibility of the relevant housing authority or authorities. This role will be underpinned further by provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (10 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: The main qualifying criterion for the Rental Accommodation Scheme is that a person should be in receipt of rent supplement for a period of 18 months or more. Detailed information in relation to the operation of the rent supplement scheme, including a county by county analysis of the number of households meeting this criterion, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (11 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority estates at various locations around the country including Parkview, Charlestown, Co. Mayo. The project involves, inter alia, the refurbishment of 23 dwellings and the construction of 7 new units. A detailed design and cost plan was submitted to my Department by Mayo County Council...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (11 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), an independent statutory body established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Nevertheless, it should be noted that since its establishment, the Board has achieved considerable success in the registration of tenancies and I understand that in excess of 227,000 active tenancies are currently...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Where an applicant for affordable housing is unable to obtain adequate mortgage finance from one of a number of private lending institutions which provide mortgage finance for affordable dwellings, they may apply to the relevant local authority for a house purchase loan. In assessing applications for a house purchase loan, local authorities must consider, inter alia, the ability of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: On 30 January 2009 I announced funding of €13 million for the improvement of five disadvantaged local authority estates at various locations around the country, including 11 houses in Boyle. The project involves the refurbishment of five dwellings at Marion Row and a further six at Termon Road. A detailed design and cost plan submitted by Roscommon County Council is being examined at...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice loan website and, to date, 44 applications have been made. Of these 27 have been declined, 4 have been approved with 2 loans now drawn down, 3 applications have been withdrawn, and a decision is pending in respect of 10 applications where further information has been sought from the applicant.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the older Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. Having regard to the continued priority which the Government attaches to these schemes and following an evaluation...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) became operational in September 2005 to the end of October 2009, some 23,469 households units have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 12,611 are housed directly in RAS accommodation – comprising 8,159 households who, in transferring, remained in their existing accommodation and 4,452 households who transferred to newly sourced...

Written Answers — Rental Accommodation Scheme: Rental Accommodation Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information in relation to the number and value of contracts entered into by local authorities with landlords for the purpose of providing accommodation under the Rental Accommodation Scheme is not held by my Department. Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), it is a matter for each local authority to determine the rental payment it will make for any eligible property. However, the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 157 together. The Home Choice Loan scheme is operated by four local authorities acting on a regional basis. Dublin City Council administers the scheme on behalf of the four Dublin authorities, as well as Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow County Councils. The table below shows activity under the scheme in the region administered by Dublin City Council....

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: I have arranged for details of the eligibility criteria for the Home Choice Loan Scheme, Affordable Housing, Shared Ownership and Local Authority house purchase loans to be sent directly to the Deputy. It should be noted that while provision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 for the replacement of existing affordable housing schemes with a single, equity based...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Information in relation to activity under the range of housing programmes, including construction, for 2008 and Quarter 1 of 2009 is set out in my Department's annual and quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library and on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. Information in relation to Quarter 2 of 2009 will be published shortly in the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: Allocations totalling €79.562 million for 2009 were notified to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the older Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes on 7 May 2009. Having regard to the continued priority which the Government attaches to these schemes and following an...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Michael Finneran: This is a technical amendment to update the collective citation of the Planning Acts to read "The Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2009". Subsequent to the publication of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 on 3 June, the Harbours (Amendment) Act was enacted in July 2009. Section 21(3) of the Harbours (Amendment) Act 2009 amended the collective citation of the Planning...